Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of increased evaluations and service connection for various conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy associated with DJD of the lumbar spine, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his military service, and the claim for this condition is granted.,There is no evidence of a dental disability that warrants compensation. The Veteran’s gum condition does not meet the criteria for VA compensation.,VA examinations are needed to determine if the Veteran has a left knee condition, bilateral foot condition, allergic rhinitis, or sinusitis related to his military service.,VA examinations are needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral foot condition is related to his military service.,VA examinations are needed to determine if the Veteran’s sinus conditions (allergic rhinitis and sinusitis) are related to his military service.,No evidence of a preexisting sinus condition prior to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, neck pain, bilateral ankle and lower leg pain, bilateral knee pain, shin splints, hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory condition (to include asthma), and skin condition (to include eczema and dermatitis). The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as to retrieve Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding hearing loss, increased ratings for tinnitus, otitis externa, and hemorrhoids. The Veteran was granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection of his left shoulder disability is granted, and he is now entitled to service connection. The rating for his right knee condition remains remanded due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis, but the claims for left knee disorder and acquired allergies are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder condition, respiratory condition (COPD), left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The reasons given were that the Veteran did not report symptoms related to these conditions until many years after service, and his work as a mason post-service was not considered strenuous enough to cause arthritis.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased evaluation of right knee chondromalacia and granted service connection for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety. The claim for increased evaluation of left knee chondromalacia is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for new medical records and an addendum opinion regarding whether the right hip disability is caused or aggravated by service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for an eye disability to include as due to meningitis.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his right knee degenerative joint disease, status-post right knee replacement, from October 17, 2009 to April 1, 2016 is being remanded due to the need for additional records and assistance.

The Board denied service connection for right hip and right knee conditions with osteoarthritis, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right inguinal hernia repair surgery. The issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the most recent VA examination report and assertions of worsening. A new VA examination will be scheduled, and all pertinent private treatment records must be obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension were denied as they are not related to service. The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or exposure that could support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's body aches in the bilateral wrists, shoulders, and knees are granted as they are part of a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.,The Veteran's insomnia is granted as it is considered a symptom of his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.

The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees effective May 26, 2011. An earlier effective date was not granted due to lack of evidence of dependency arising within one year of birth.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination results, and a new VA examination is required.